PG&E hosts San Ramon event with nonprofit for girls

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PG&E hosted a tour of one of its testing facilities in San Ramon on Wednesday with the Oakland-based Alameda County branch of national nonprofit, Girls Inc.

The event was organized in an effort to encourage female interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematical (STEM) careers.

The Applied Technology Services (ATS) Lab located at 3402 Crow Canyon Road is the hub for condition assessment and performance testing as well as failure analysis, inspection services and evaluation services among various PG&E operated equipment used to supply power to local agencies, businesses and homes, according to company officials.

The tour was led by David Bradley, PG&E’s manager of technology application, who explained to the group of about a dozen middle school students and their chaperones the different processes that take place in the facility.

“What I liked about the tour was that there’s not only one thing that they focus on doing, there’s a variety of things that they do,” said Girls Inc. student Savannah Johnson. “My favorite part was watching the video about their safety because if they go into a high voltage system at least they know how to be careful and what to do.”

PG&E and Girls Inc. hosted the event to inspire girls to pursue education and careers in STEM fields due to the shortage of women in the industry. Introduction to design technology is also a component of the Girls Inc. summer camp program.

“I’ve actually thought about working in this kind of environment before coming to PG&E,” said Itzel Gonzalez-Zepeda, another Girls Inc. student who attended the tour. “I was walking with my sister to Laney College and we passed by a room with an engineer, and later I told my mom, ‘That’s what I want to do, mom.'”

Following the hour-long tour, the students got a chance to meet women who work for PG&E in various capacities, including engineers and field technicians.

“We really want to show these young girls that women can and do work in these fields,” PG&E corporate relations rep Hailey Wilson said.

Nicki Guard — the Girls Inc. volunteer manager — said that they chose to bring their group to the PG&E facility because there are a lot of female engineers, women in business and women with advanced degrees that work for the company.

“We specifically request that women come in, which is one of the key parts where they get to meet and interact with women in non-traditional careers where maybe a large portion of the company is made up of men,” Guard said.

After a group lunch and ice-breaker activities, the girls were also given a first-hand look at PG&E’s Picarro, Inc. car-mounted mobile leak detection system used to reduce methane leaks and increase early leak detection.

PG&E technology application manager David Bradley led the tour of the local facility, introducing the girls to the performance testing and condition assessment processes conducted at the lab. (Photo by Cierra Bailey).
PG&E and Girls Inc. of Alameda County organized the ATS tour to inspire girls to pursue education and careers in STEM fields. (Photo by Cierra Bailey).
PG&E hosted a tour for female students a part of the Girls Inc. summer camp program at its San Ramon-based Applied Services Technology lab. (Photo courtesy of PG&E).
Middle school girls from different communities throughout Alameda County who have expressed interest in science and technology attended the ATS tour in San Ramon this week. (Photo by Cierra Bailey).